The purpose of Stage 4 is for the parties to negotiate an Agreement in Principle. This is the agreement that will form the basis of the treaty. It should be the product of a thorough examination of the subjects set out in the Framework Agreement.
The Agreement in Principle should contain the essential points of agreement among the parties. The parties should confirm their processes for ratification of the final treaty and establish a mechanism to develop an implementation plan.
It is anticipated that substantial agreements on specified subject matters, or chapters, may be reached by a table over the course of the negotiations. When the negotiating table agrees on the Agreement in Principle as a complete document, the Chief Negotiators can recommend that the agreement be approved by their respective Principals. Their recommendation is normally indicated by the Chief Negotiators’ initialing the agreement. As with Framework Agreements, Agreements in Principle must be approved in accordance with the approval processes of the respective parties. The agreement is then signed. By the approval process, the parties should be able to provide their negotiators with a mandate to conclude a treaty.
The parties should notify the Commission when they plan to sign the Agreement in Principle and must provide the Commission with a copy of the signed agreement. Once the Agreement in Principle is approved and signed by each party, the Commission will acknowledge this by declaring that the table has moved into Stage 5 of the process.
The Ditidaht and Pacheedaht Agreement in Principle was signed on June 28, 2019, and the Parties are in Stage 5 negotiations to conclude treaty.
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The Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw (NStQ) Treaty Negotiations Agreement in Principle was signed on July 22, 2018, and the Parties are in Stage 5 negotiations to conclude treaty.
The AIP appendices can be read here.
The Kitsumkalum Agreement in Principle was signed in August 4, 2015, and the Parties are in Stage 5 negotiations to conclude treaty.
The Samahquam and Skatin First Nations Agreement in Principle, formerly In-SHUCK-ch Nation, was signed in August 2007, and the Parties are in Stage 5.
Please see the Negotiations Process page, which sets out the BC Treaty Commission’s policies and procedures for Stages 1 – 4 of the six-stage treaty negotiations process.
It also sets out the Treaty Commission’s basic policies on Dispute Resolution and Interim Measures.
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